Oliver Kahn has attracted attention with his controversial opinion regarding the recent lighter incident involving goalkeeper Drewes.
Berlin – An unpleasant incident overshadowed the last day of the Bundesliga: Patrick Drewes, goalkeeper of VfL Bochum, was hit on the head by a lighter during the match against Union Berlin. This event ignited a heated debate that goes far beyond the sporting aspects of football, also raising moral questions. Oliver Kahn, former general manager of FC Bayern, shared a controversial perspective on the situation.
Kahn, who himself was hit by objects several times during his active career, reacted critically to Drewes’ response to the lighter throw. In an interview with Bild, he said: “I would have preferred that the goalkeeper had tried to continue playing. He should only leave once it becomes impossible to do so.” This statement surprised many people, especially since Kahn experienced similar situations during his own career.
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Following the incident, Bochum continued the match with ten players, with striker Philipp Hofmann taking over goalkeeping duties for Drewes.
A notable example of Kahn’s own experiences is the incident in 2000, when he was hit in the head by a golf ball during a match in Freiburg, but continued to play despite the wound bleeding.
Kahn recalls: “In Freiburg, my body released so much adrenaline that I initially felt no pain. The impact could have been fatal.” The 55-year-old added: “Sepp Maier was already targeted by a knife in Essen which grazed him. In Milan, a one-liter glass bottle fell one meter from me. At that moment- there, football turns into a risky sport.”
Reactions to Kahn’s remarks were mixed. Ilja Kaenzig, general director of VfL Bochum, defended Drewes and spoke of a “victim-aggressor reversal”. Stefan Effenberg, Kahn’s former teammate at Bayern and current pundit for Sports 1, showed his understanding of Drewes’ decision to leave the field. “I can completely understand Drewes’ behavior,” Effenberg said on the “Doppelpass” show.
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On the other hand, former referee Manuel Gräfe harshly criticized Drewes and called his reaction a “theater of the absurd”. This statement sparked intense reactions and divided opinions within the football community.
The incident sparked discussions not only about Drewes’ reaction but also about the result of the 1:1 draw between Union Berlin and VfL Bochum. Bochum is hoping for a decision at the Green Table, arguing that the match should have been abandoned.
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The decision is still pending, keeping the tension alive. Kahn concluded: “I’m not a lawyer. In general, I find it unfortunate when matches are not decided on the field.” (ck)
